Historical Timeline

At Bellin, we’re proudly celebrating 100 years of service to Green Bay and the Northeast Wisconsin region. At the same time, we’re humbled by the trust our patients--and the healthcare providers in this community--have placed in us over the course of a century. Since 1907, when Julius Bellin first converted a small house into what has become the Bellin Health System, we have been able to fulfill on his vision of providing outstanding, affordable healthcare, and at the same time, achieve a level of quality that has allowed us to play a pivotal role in the health and well-being of families for generations. To all of you, we say thank you for your benevolence and support. Thank you for your trust, hard work and dedication. Thank you for allowing us to be part of so many lives.

And one more thing: Welcome…to Bellin Health.

1907

Julius J. Bellin M.D, a surgeon, purchases a 15-bed house from Dr. B.C. Brett. This house became "General Hospital", located at 112 N. Adams Street (where the Wis. Telephone Co. is now located).

Dr. B.C. Brett was a retiring physician from St. Vincent and St. Mary's Hospitals.

Dr. Bellin invites two deaconesses to assist him in Green Bay at "General Hospital".

Miss Matilda (Tillie) Giese and Miss Delia Scheible arrive from Ohio. They were from the German Methodist Deaconess Order (a nursing order from the combined German Methodist and Lutheran churches); Miss Giese trained at Bethesda Hospital in Cincinnati Ohio.

First patient: Robert Dickey, May 6, 1907. 1908

General Hospital becomes incorporated, moves to the D.W. Britton home, a larger house on the corner of Lawe and Webster streets.

The hospital is rented from Dr. Bellin for $40/month.

Named "Deaconess Sanitarium". This is the site of Bellin Hospital today.

Nurses Hannah Wedewart (Mrs. Greiser) and Carrie Krueger (Mrs. Horkman) join the staff of General Hospital. The nurses carried patients up and down the stairs (a spiral staircase) using stretchers, tended the fires, mowed the lawn, and did cooking and cleaning in addition to caring for the sick.

First class of "Deaconess Sanitarium Training School"; 3 students enrolled; only one finishes the program.

1909

Information taken from a postcard dated September 1909: "Training for Nurses": "The new hospital offers a superior course for bright and ambitious women in the profession of nursing. It's modern in all respects - location, excellent, streetcar and ambulance service. Rates $7.00 and upward per week. Open with reputable physicians. Write to: Sister Tillie Giese, Head Deaconess; Rev. J.H.Paul, Spiritual Advisor; Rev. Perry Miller, District Supt. Appleton; Julius J. Bellin, M.D., House Physician".

One of the first services offered with the first hospital is the concept of a bathhouse, which included "Moor Mud Baths": supposed to be "nature's infallible cure for rheumatism and kindred diseases".

1912

A.J. Benjamin appointed Field Secretary; business management of the hospital organizes with a "Board of Managers".

1913

Board of Managers reincorporates the hospital.

Board of managers consists of 50 representative men of the state.

1915

Miss Giese conducts groundbreaking for a new $60,000 building for the hospital, no longer a house.

1916

1923

Nurses Home and Annex building addition completed, north wing; 24,576 sq. ft.

60 different physicians, surgeons and dentists treat patients at the hospital.

1925

Mrs. Charlotte M. Fowler of Antigo donates $25,000 toward building a residence for students of the School of Nursing.

Dr. and Mrs. Bellin donate money to construct another 4-story wing.

June 1925, Board of Managers vote to rename the hospital "Bellin Memorial Hospital", (over-riding Dr. Bellin's objections), "as a tribute to the good doctor’s many years of charitable works and service."

Board of Managers elects 15 members for Board of Directors; at least 8 directors must be members in good standing of the Methodist Church.

First president of the Board of Directors is the Rev. J.H.Tippet, father of Dr. Walter Tippet.

Bellin is a founding member of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the leading organization in the world in the learning and application of quality improvement concepts and principles in healthcare

2002

Bellin starts a new home infusion service, enabling patients to receive needed drug and nutritional treatments in their homes.

Emergency Services expands its outpatient service hours of operation to 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Along with this expansion in operating hours, the name Clinicare will change to Bellin Health Emergency Services.

Construction of new boiler plant is complete. Building is Phase I of $40 million hospital campus redevelopment project.

New two-story addition to Van Buren Street building is complete. Addition is Phase II of $40 million hospital campus redevelopment project.

Touchpoint Health Plan (of which Bellin is a partial owner) is ranked Best in the Nation for Effectiveness of Care – NCQA singles out the doctors of Touchpoint for having the best overall performance in the country.

2003

100 Top Hospitals® study names Bellin Hospital as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals, a leader among health care providers.

Years of quality improvement work pay off…Bellin rated by HealthGrades as one of the best hospitals for quality; recognized by J.D. Power and Associates for “providing an outstanding patient experience”.

ACT Fast, (Access Coordinated Treatment Fast) a new service designed to help physicians and referring health care organizations gain fast and easy admissions access for patients needing to be transferred to Bellin Hospital is unveiled.

Hospital is named one of the nation's 100 Top cardiovascular hospitals by Solucient®.

Bellin is a founding member of the Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality.

2004

County Rescue’s EAGLE III helicopter and other emergency helicopters are now able to take patients directly to Bellin Hospital with the opening of its new heliport. The heliport is located on Bellin Hospital’s new four-story courtyard building.

Bellin Health Heart and Vascular Center forms.

2005

Bellin Health performs its first robotic assisted surgery. Bellin is one of only two hospitals in the state with this technology and one of a few in the world to be able to offer the ground-breaking technology.

Bellin’s cath lab performs its 50,000th cardiac catheterization procedure, making it one of the busiest cath labs in the state.

The Bellin Run grows to be the 6th largest 10-K run in the nation.

Bellin Health, in partnership with the Oconto Community Hospital Citizens’ Foundation, opens the Bond Health Center, a 4-bed hospital and emergency department, in Oconto.

The Bellin Health Hospital Center renovation project is completed. Started in 2001, this project has updated many areas of the hospital.

2006

Bellin opens two FastCare clinics in area ShopKo stores, the first retail health clinics in the area, offering a complete visit for only $39.

The new Green Bay Health and Athletic Performance Center opens at 1630 Commanche Ave., featuring Bellin’s new XL athletic performance center, an expanded fitness center, expanded FMC-Ashwaubenon, a new occupational health office and clinic offices for Orthopaedic Associates and Green Bay Orthopedics. An open house on November 11 is attended by approximately 3,500 people.

The Bellin Health Heart and Vascular Center is nation a 100 Top Hospital –Cardiovascular by Solucient.

Bellin Home Health is named a top 100 home health agency by Outcome Concept Systems, a leading benchmarking company.

Bellin introduces 64-slice CT, a new highly advanced diagnostic tool in the fight against heart disease and other conditions.

Bellin achieves 59-minute door-to-balloon time for patients suffering a heart attack. The national average at this time is 120 minutes and the American College of Cardiology has set a goal of 90 minutes.

The Bellin Run surpasses 10,000 registrants, making it the 7th largest 10K road race in the nation, while celebrating its 30th anniversary.

2007

Bellin College of Nursing graduates first master’s degree class.

Bellin named the exclusive health care partner of the Green Bay Packers.

Bellin Foundation receives $1.25 million from Fulwiler family, the largest single donation in Bellin history.

The Bellin Run is broadcast on local television for the first time in its 36-year history.

The Neuro Team at Bellin Health is remodeled and relocated to create a comprehensive care location for patients.

New York Times newspaper lauds Bellin Health in an editorial article for the health system’s ability to slow rising health care costs while simultaneously and consistently ranking among the best in quality of care.

Bellin Health earns top grade for hospital safety from The Leapfrog Group, an independent, national non-profit organization run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits.